'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 6

The providence of God often goes beyond our imagination and often crosses our desires and designs to our great advantage. He does not give what we fancy, but what his infinite wisdom judges best and most beneficial. It often happens that probabilities are dashed, and things remote and utterly improbable are brought about in very strange and unaccountable methods of providence. Give God the glory for all the providential works that yield comfort to you. You can see his wise, governing providence has ordered all things beyond your own designs. We see his wisdom in properly providing for our family. He provides the proper quantity, not satisfying our extravagant wishes, but answering our real needs, and provides sufficiently for our passage home. There is a dangerous influence in fullness in most men to forget God. Sometimes God dispenses our portion that we pinch hard, and are tempted to fear and mistrust. Providence so orders the case that faith and prayer need to be exercised to close the gap between our needs and supply. Thus, the goodness of God is more magnified in supplying the provisions we need. Be careful that you do not forget the kind provisions God has graciously supplied in the past, and do not murmur and regret under new straits. Do not show the least discontent at the lot and portion providence carves out for you. O that you would be well pleased and satisfied with all its appointments! Surely what is best for you is what providence has appointed, and one day you will agree yourself that it is so. Do not distract your hearts with sinful cares. Consider the birds of the air, for God provides for them. Remember your relation to Christ and content your hearts with all the allotments of providence.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
John Flavel, Works, IV:392-398
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